UPDATE: Jaleel F. Cameron handed over $20K to hospital for life-saving equipment
As firstly and accurately reported by this news site, the lad handed over a cheque for $20,000 to Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W. Skelton and Chief Executive Officer of the BVI Health Service Authority (BVIHSA) Ms Darlene Carty-Baptiste in the presence of several persons/businesses who in one way or the other donated to the cause.
Minister Skelton said that what Jaleel F. Cameron is doing is important and it sends a message to each and every one of us in the Virgin Islands that our health should come first. “Jaleel has started a movement that can only help us, not just in our services but in all aspects of our society where people need help,” he said.
Speaking briefly at the short ceremony Hon Skelton recalled that he first heard of Cameron’s quest during the recent political campaign period and he was only moved to make a donation to the cause.
According to the Minister he learnt also of the heartwarming move by the garbage collectors who came forward and assisted the child by donating $5,000.
For Ms Carty-Baptiste the actions of the 10 year old speak to the values that were instilled in him by his parents and other family members especially his grandmother Yvonne James-Tonge. “It speaks of what they have instilled in him and it resonates to what he is going to be in the future,” she said.
The child showered thanks to all that supported him in achieving his objective and while he named a few persons and entities he was that there will be a forum where he would be mentioning everyone who assisted him.
See previous story published on July 12, 2015:
Jaleel F. Cameron to hand over $20k to Peebles Hospital tomorrow
-for the purchase of EEG machine for hospital; Foundation in child’s name in the process of being set up
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Grandmother of Jaleel F. Cameron, Yvonne James-Tonge has confirmed that the child will tomorrow July 13, 2015 hand over a cheque of $20,000 to Peebles Hospital for the purchase of an EEG (Electroencephalogram) machine needed by the hospital to examine persons like Jaleel, who has been diagnosed with epilepsy.
The handing over will take place at 9:30 sharp and Minister for Health and Social Development Honourable Ronnie W Skelton and other officials from the hospital will be there.
Speaking with this news site a few minutes ago this evening July 12, 2015, James-Tonge said, “[Jaleel] will be handing over a cheque tomorrow for $20,000 which actually exceeds his targeted amount of $17,000.”
She explained that the 10 year old student of St Georges Primary School had already handed over a cheque for $7,000. “With the $20,000 tomorrow it would have exceeded the targeted amount,” she said. The cost of the machine is around $24,000, she said.
Jaleel Cameron Foundation
Asked what is next for the family now that the machine is finally being purchased, she said that the family is making arrangements to form the Jaleel Cameron Foundation.
“We don’t have all the details because the paperwork is still going through but once we have that on hand we will let you guys know,” she said. James-Tonge said that the Board has already been formed but she declined to give the names of the board members as all arrangements have not yet been finalised.
Over the past few weeks, pledges and actual cash have been coming in from various donors, the latest being a $5,000 donation on Friday July 10, 2015 from the Waste Management Association.
Jaleel too young for politics
In response to the statements made by both sides of the political divide during the last elections campaign, James-Tonge in June had declared Jaleel too young for politics.
The Opposition Virgin Islands Party’s members spoke repeatedly about the efforts of Jaleel in raising funds for the purchase of the medical equipment for the hospital, saying that it cannot be justified having a 10 year old boy raise funds for the purchase when the Government declared that it had $90 million in the bank.
However, members of the ruling National Democratic Party took umbrage to these statements and called them an attack on Cameron and his efforts and condemned the Virgin Islands Party for such an “attack.”
33 Responses to “UPDATE: Jaleel F. Cameron handed over $20K to hospital for life-saving equipment”
It is a well known fact that Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, your ancestral home or not. Don't take my word for it just google "Nigeria corruption" and start reading from the 35 million hits
No, it is not a fact that Nigeria is one of the most corrupt countries of the world. Since when a nation that is 35 years old could be labeled the most corrupt in the world? Yes, there is corruption all over the world; there is corruption in Nigeria, there is mismanagement of resources, abuse of public offices and bribery, but it cannot amount to the corruption that has plagued other nations of the world that could brands it as most corrupt.
When it comes to a black nation, they are quick to put labels on it, when their kettle bottom is blacker.
I beg to differ with your unfounded opinion and whoever on Google has placed that label on Nigeria.
I know about other nations whose corruption and racist practices can beat Nigeria by 1,000 times.
What about a nation that is 239 years old --
Which has spilled more human blood than Nigeria?
Which has killed off millions of Native Americans?
Which has dropped a bomb on Heroshima & Nagasaki and killed 140,000 instantly?
Which has enslaved Africans for 300 plus years and after working them for free labour continue to discriminate against them?
Which promised the ex-slaves 40 acres and a mule and didn't fulfill their promise?
Which had a Constitution that stated that all men are created equal with the same inalienable rights, but refused black people the right to vote?
Which put fire hoses and dogs ripped off the breast of black women because they marched for these rights promised them?
Which made experiments on black people that left many sterile and unable to produce an offspring?
Which experimented with radiation on black men and burnt the skin off their heads?
Which has put Planned Parenthood Clinics in black neighbourhoods to lessen the population of black people?
Which has profiled and placed black men in prisons for the Corporation's gain and also to ensure that the black population does not outnumber the white population?
Which shoot down black men because the cannot accept the truth that a black man has graced the "White House" as president?
Who after 500 years continue to treat the black race as inferior?
What about the nation which enslaved Nelson Mandela and his comrades for speaking out against a racist apartheid reigme?
where its people came to live among a peaceful South African people and when they beheld the diamonds on the face of the earth, wreaked havoc on the people, classifying them as non-citizens in their own country?
What about the hundreds massacred at Sharpeville?
What about the nation ---
Who as a Monarchy saw and took nations of all she surveyed?
Who as a Monarchy was involved in the slave trade for profits?
What about the Empire --
Which has stolen the religion of the Ancient Africans of Egypt, took it to Europe and called it their own?
Which has killed millions in the name of religion?
Tell me, I ask, whether Nigeria has done any of the above, and that is only a tip of the iceberg. The clear answer is No, it hasn't.
Because the larger nations cannot get their filthy hands on Nigeria's oil money they are now called the most corrupt?
That is some of the evidence presented to refute the statement that Nigeria is the most corrupt nation in the world. The jury would concur that Nigeria can never be more corrupt than the nations who fit the cap for the above atrocities committed against humanity. So, no, it is evidentiary correct that Nigeria is not the most corrupt nation in the world. I rest on that.
Good Job Jaheel. Everyone out there reading this, this is a great way to give back to our country without looking for something in return.
i bet If B..hop C...e was selling that machine the government would have already bought 4 of them